Don't Close Your Eyes (album)

Don't Close Your Eyes
Studio album by Keith Whitley
Released	May 31, 1988
Genre	Country
Length	39:31
Label	RCA
Producer	Garth Fundis Blake Mevis Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley chronology
L.A. to Miami (1985) Don't Close Your Eyes (1988) I Wonder Do You Think of Me (1989)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Don't Close Your Eyes is the second studio album by country music artist Keith Whitley. It was released on May 31, 1988 through RCA Records. After the success of his debut album, L.A. to Miami (1985), Whitley re-entered the studio and began recording a sophomore album with producer Blake Mevis. After its completion, Whitely was unhappy with its production, and he convinced his label to shelve the recordings. Don't Close Your Eyes was subsequently recorded with producer Garth Fundis.^[2][3]

The album became a commercial success, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It contained three consecutive number one hits on the Hot Country Singles chart: "Don't Close Your Eyes", "When You Say Nothing at All", and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain".

Track listing

1. "Flying Colors" (Kim Morrison, Gary Talley) - 3:35
2. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (Don Cook, Curly Putman, Keith Whitley) - 2:45
3. "Lucky Dog" (Bill Caswell, Verlon Thompson) - 2:00^A
4. "Don't Close Your Eyes" (Bob McDill) - 4:09
5. "The Birmingham Turnaround" (Warren Robb, Sanger D. Shafer) - 2:49
6. "Some Old Side Road" (Roger D. Ferris) - 3:25
7. "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" (Hank Cochran, Vern Gosdin, Red Lane) - 3:10^A
8. "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" (Sonny Curtis, Ron Hellard) - 3:33
9. "I Never Go Around Mirrors (I've Got a Heartache to Hide)" (Lefty Frizzell, Shafer) - 4:24
10. "When You Say Nothing at All" (Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz) - 3:40
11. "Day in the Life of a Fool" (Mike Dekle, Byron Hill) - 3:37^A
12. "Honky Tonk Heart" (Johnny Neel, Lonnie Wilson) - 3:04

• ^AOmitted from LP and cassette versions.

Personnel

Compiled from liner notes.^[4]

All tracks except "Some Old Side Road" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"

Musicians Eddie Bayers — drums Paul Franklin — steel guitar, Pedabro Allen Frizzell — background vocals on "I Never Go Around Mirrors" Garth Fundis — background vocals Red Lane — acoustic guitar Mac McAnally — acoustic guitar Dave Pomeroy — bass guitar Matt Rollings — piano Billy Sanford — acoustic guitar, electric guitar Keith Whitley — lead vocals Dennis Wilson — background vocals

Technical Garth Fundis — production, mixing Carlos Grier — mastering assistant Gary Laney — engineering, mixing Denny Purcell — mastering Todd Sholar — assistant engineer Keith Whitley — production

"Some Old Side Road" and "Would These Arms Be in Your Way"

Musicians Sonny Garrish — steel guitar Vern Gosdin — background vocals on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" Rob Hajacos — fiddle on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" Emmylou Harris — background vocals on "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" Mitch Humphries — keyboards Jerry Kroon — drums Mike Lawler — synthesizer Larry Paxton — bass guitar Brent Rowan — lead guitar, rhythm guitar Keith Whitley — lead vocals Dennis Wilson — background vocals on "Some Old Side Road" Curtis "Mr. Harmony" Young — background vocals on "Some Old Side Road"

Technical Bill Harris — engineering Blake Mevis — production

Chart performance

Album

Chart (1988)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums	8
U.S. Billboard 200	121
Canadian RPM Country Albums	10

Singles

Year	Single	Peak positions
		US Country	CAN Country
1987	"Would These Arms Be in Your Way"	36	—
	"Some Old Side Road"	16	32
1988	"Don't Close Your Eyes"	1	2
	"When You Say Nothing at All"	1	*
1989	"I'm No Stranger to the Rain"	1	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[5]	Gold	500,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Production

• Produced by Garth Fundis and Keith Whitley except for tracks 6 and 7, produced by Blake Mevis for Southwind Music, Inc.
• Engineered By Bill Harris, Gary Laney & Todd Sholar
• Mixed By Garth Fundis & Gary Laney
• Digital Editing By Carlos Grier
• Mastered By Denny Purcell

References

1. Owens, Thom. "Don't Close Your Eyes review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
2. Jack Hurst (May 15, 1988). "Back In Focus". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
3. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Keith Whitley: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
4. Don't Close Your Eyes (CD booklet). Keith Whitley. RCA Records. 1988. 6494.
5. "American album certifications – Keith Whitley – Don't Close Your Eyes". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH